Arbuscular mycorrhizal networks-A climate-smart blueprint for agriculture.

Abstract

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiosis offers a transformative solution to mitigate agroecosystem challenges linked to the excessive use of synthetic chemicals. However, the role of AM-plant communication in response to anthropogenic activities and hyphal network functionality remains poorly understood. Here, we reposition AM fungal hyphosphere networks as a keystone ecological infrastructure for sustainable agroecosystems. Drawing on a synthesis of thousands of global experimental studies, we highlight the primary environmental functions of AM fungus-plant communication: enhancing agroecosystem resilience by buffering crops against diverse biotic and abiotic stressors through molecular signaling and physiological modulation, mediating energy transfer via small-RNA-mediated cross-kingdom interactions, facilitating hydraulic redistribution within the soil profile through hyphospheric networks, and optimizing root architecture via effective colonization for improved nutrient acquisition. Certain anthropogenic practices-such as soil disturbance, non-mycorrhizal crop monoculture, and fungicide application-can disrupt AM hyphal networks; however, these impacts can be minimized through improved farming practices, such as cropping diversification with legumes and AM fungus-compatible crops, AM-responsive plant genotypes, effective AM fungal inoculation, and microbial consortium amendments. Integrating insights into AM fungal mechanisms with anthropogenic practices and policy support is essential to scaling AM benefits across ecoregions. Harnessing AM fungal functionality can increase nutrient use efficiency, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and enhance ecosystem productivity, offering a microbe-centered blueprint to support the United Nations' sustainability goals.